International Association of Democratic Lawyers declaration

The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) called upon the government of Turkey to immediately put an end to all forms of violence against peaceful demonstrators in the General Assembly of Human Rights Council 23th Session. . And also, IADL ask the Council to strongly condemn the disproportionate use of force against peaceful demonstrators and opponents regardless of where it takes place.

Fulltext of Declaration:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Human Rights Council 23th Session

Item 3 : Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

General Debate

The International Association of Democratic Lawyers took note of the report presented by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. As he stated, the freedom to take part in protests and demonstrations is an important mean of expression and strengthening of everyone’s right to participate in public debate and dialogue. States have the duty to facilitate and protect the exercise of this fundamental right.

In the recent years the right to freedom of assembly has become very popular. We felicitate this attitude and the establishment of this new special procedure. But, is this fundamental right respected by the countries who formally promote it and require its respect by other countries? Or is it just a ‘privilege’ of people who are demonstrating against the so called “rogue states”?

Turkey, for example, is one of the countries who co-sponsor the Human Rights Council resolution 15/21 which, recognizing that freedom of peaceful assembly is an essential component of democracy, decided to establish the mandate of the Special Rapporteur. In the meantime Turkey restrains the exercise of this right by its own citizens and too often repress protests with an excessive use of force by police.

Last week the Turkish police turned Istanbul in a proper battleground. Taskim square has been literally under siege during 2 days. On the 30th of May, riot police deployed tear gas and water cannon to disperse a peaceful protest against the controversial project of the government to demolish Gezi Park in central Istanbul to erect a shopping center. The heavy-handed intervention of the police provoked nationwide protests against the government which have been violently repressed by the authorities. As a result, thousands of people have been detained and hundreds injured. Some of them needed intensive care and emergency surgery. According to reliable sources two people have been killed.

We call upon the government of Turkey to immediately put an end to all forms of violence against peaceful demonstrators and to comply strictly with its obligations under international law. We also urge the government of Turkey to promptly investigate all allegations of abuse and to ensure accountability for those responsible for such gross violations of international human rights law and standards.

We urge the Special Rapporteur to envisage a mission in this country as soon as possible. Indeed

excessive force is frequently used by police to disperse protests in Turkey as it also happened just four weeks ago during the May Day demonstrations. Finally we ask the Council to strongly condemn the disproportionate use of force against peaceful demonstrators and opponents regardless of where it takes place.